Friday 4 August 2017

The Musical Journey of KISHORE KUMAR


Could you believe that the Musical Journey of Kishore Kumar started with an injury.Today(4th Aug) on his 88th Birth Anniversary I will take you on the Musical Journey of Kishore Kumar.
Dadamoni Ashok Kumar the eldest brother of Kishore Da once revealed that a young Kishore had a terrible voice. But once he cut his big toe at home and the injury made him cry all the time. He would wail all day and night and, as Dadamoni put it, uska gala khul gaya.
Kishore Kumar was ecentric or unusual start from his childhood,when he was studying in a boarding school of Indore,in his hostel room's wall he scribbled Kishore's name, in his own handwriting, in his favourite style, in reverse: Ramaku Rashoki.For several years, one of the walls of his hostel room stood witness to his eccentricity.
By the time Kishore became a teenager, Dadamoni had established himself as a doyen of Hindi cinema. So, when he heard of Kishore's exploits in the college, Ashok Kumar summoned him to Bombay.Here he got an audience with Kundan Lal Sehgal,he became a big fan of Sehgal.He also started to show interest in music and often mimicked the great K.L. Saigal. Though he did not have any formal training in music, he decided to pursue it.It became his dream to become a famous playback singer and be counted among legends. He would often go to the studios and ask producers if he could sing on the movie's soundtrack.
In Ashok kumar's house where he was staying he started singing K L Sehgal's songs which were popular those days, he perfectly imitated K.L. Saigal.There is a story that the  the great music composer S.D Burman had come to Ashok Kumar's house to meet up when he heard Kishore singing. He actually thought it was K.L. Saigal singing and inquired if he was there too! When he came to know that it was Kishore singing, he truly appreciated and encouraged the young lad to continue refining his voice but at the same time make his own style.
 Kishore kept this advice in mind and went on develop his own signature style. He wanted to do some thing different.His elder brother Anoop Kumar gave him the records of  Austrian music collections.In that collection there were records of  Tex Morton and Jimmie Rodgers who were the king of Yodeling.He perfected yodeling, a unique style he heard amongst the Austrian music collections of his brother Anoop. In Hindi film industry, his yodeling turned out to be widely popular and became a trademark of Kishore Kumar. 
Ashok Kumar wanted him to be an actor because singing wasn't as lucrative but Kishore Kumar wanted to be a singer.He started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies under the direction of Saraswati Devi and his singing soon attracted the attention of composer Khemchand Prakash. In 1948, he was chosen by Khemchand Prakash to sing "Marne ki Duayen Kyon Mangu" in the film Ziddi starring Dev Anand. Prakash later provided Kishore Kumar his first hit with "Jagmag Jagmag Karta Nikla Chand Poonam Ka Pyara.",
 After this, Kumar was offered many other assignments, but he was not very serious about a film career. In 1949, he settled in Mumbai..Kishore Kishore played the hero in the Bombay Talkies film Andolan (1951), directed by Phani Majumdar. Although he got some acting assignments with the help of his brother, he was more interested in becoming a singer.
It was S D Burman who  exploited the potential of Kishore Kumar,He gave him a chance in 1950 film Pyar the song was Kachchee pakkee sadkon pe meree tumtum (from Pyar) also took him in his upcoming films Baazi and Bahar both released in 1951 in both the films he sang one song each.
Salil Chaudhary was a hit music composer those days,he refused to give Kishore Kumar chance in his films because he felt that Kishore is not a trained singer.There was a film Naukri 1954 in which Kishore was the hero Salil Da was on the point of summoning Hemant Kumar to sing Chhota sa ghar hoga in place of our already unemployed hero of Naukri: Kishore Kumar.It was only after Kishore Kumar virtually begged Salil Chowdhury to hear him out.That song was "Chhota Sa Ghar Hoga Taron Ki Chaon Mein"which became hit.
HS Rawail, who directed Kumar in Lehren, was convinced that the musicality bred into Kumar's very marrow bestowed a fantastic flair for gesture and that helped him transform from a singer who could act to a star in his own right.
The success of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) revealed the ease with which Kumar could don the hats of singer, producer, and star but this is also one of the first films that display the rare ability which separated Kumar from all other playback singers.
In the 50s Kishore Kumar sang for Dev Anand and himself and he gave many hit songs.Some of the songs were; "Maana Janaab Ne Pukara Nahin" from Paying Guest, "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" from Nau Do Gyarah (1957), "Ai Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa" from Funtoosh, and "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si" and "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958). Asha Bhosle and Kishore performed duets composed by Burman including "Chhod Do Aanchal" from Paying Guest (1957), "Ankhon Mein Kya Ji" from Nau Do Gyarah (1957), "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka" and "Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana" from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) and "Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab" from Teen Deviyan (1965)."Eena Meena Deeka" from Aasha (1957). Kishore Kumar's work includes "Nakhrewaali" from New Delhi (1956) by Shankar Jaikishan, "C.A.T. Cat Maane Billi" and "Hum To Mohabbat Karega" from Dilli Ka Thug (1958) by Ravi, and "Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein" from Ganga Ki Lahren (1964) by Chitragupta.
!950s and 1960s was the period in which Mohammad Rafi was on his peak,there were Mukesh ,Manna De and Talat Mehmood in the scene,Kishore was not being offered many songs.but he was giving hits in that period.Then came Aradhna in 1969 that changed the fate of Kishore Kumar.Indeed, by getting the two songs that were recorded for the film, Baaghon mein bahaar hai (with Lata Mangeshkar) and Gunguna rahe hain bhanwre (with Asha Bhosle), to be by Rafi, Dada Burman had already indicated his choice of voice for Aradhana.But this was the point at which S D Burman fell critically ill.he wanted to record the game changing song"Roop tera mastaana pyaar mera deewaana; Mere sapnon kee raanee kab aayegee too; immediately Mohammad Rafi was out On a Musical Tour outside the country and was to return after a month So  Dada called Kishore to record these songs for him even that Raag Pahadi duet of Kishore with Lata, Kora kaagaz thha yeh man meraa, weren't these tunes initially envisioned, by Dada Burman, to go in the voice of Mohammed Rafi on a still-to-arrive Rajesh Khanna?Rest is history.
By the time Aradhana unfolded as S D Burman's 'second coming', Pancham was already on the verge of an individual breakthrough via Kati Patang -- via Kishore's Yeh shaam mastaanee madhosh kiye jaaye; Yeh jo mohabbat hai yeh unka hai kaam; and Pyaar deewaana hota hai mastaana hota hai -- songs released well before that Asha Parekh-Rajesh Khanna starrer hit the screen.Pancham now was clearly the coming Kishore force. The trio of Rajesh Khanna,kishore and R D Burman were out to conquer the Bollywood music.Most of the Heroes of that time 70s now asking for Kishore Kumar to sing their songs,music directors also now taking Kishore instead of Rafi,Kishore was giving hit after hit and he was at his peak,first he became the voice of Rajesh Khanna and later became the voice of Amitabh Bachchan.
1986 was a critical year for Kishore Kumar.  He suffered from a heart attack.  He recovered from  this, but it caused him to greatly reduce his recording schedule.  He planed to go into retirement and return to his birthplace of Khandwa; but this just does not seem to happen.  Kishore's last recording was a playback song for Mithun Chakraborty.  This was a duet with Asha Bhosle for the film "Waqt Ki Aawaz" (1988).In 1987 he suffered another massive heart attack in Bombay.  He died on October 13, 1987, at the age of 58. 
Here are Kishore Kumar's 20 Hit Songs of Golden Era Of Bollywood
Song from Ziddi (1948)



Song from Rimjhim 1949



Song from Ladki 1953



Song from Naukri 1954



Song from Munimji (1955)



Song from Mem Sahib 1956



Song from Funtoosh (1956)


Song from Paying Guest (1957)



Song from Asha 1957



Song from Nau Do Gyarah (1957),



Song from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi 1958



Song from Manmauji (1961)



Song from Jhumroo (1961)



Song from Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964).



Song from Ganga Ki Lahren (1964)



Song from Teen Deviyan 1965



Song from Guide 1965



Song from Padosan 1968



Song from Aradhna 1969



Song from Prem Pujari (1969)







Thursday 3 August 2017

JAIDEV-The Talent Constantly Neglected


On the 98th Birth Anniversary, we remember today the Music Composer Jaidev(3rd Aug 1919).A winner of four Sur Singar Samsad awards, the Lata Mangeshkar Award of the M P Government and three National Awards (Reshma Aur Shera', 'Gaman ,'Ankahee'), Jaidev did not get the recognition he deserved.He acted in eight films as a child star in Wadia Film Company.While he was acting in films in Bombay he took music lessons from Krshnarao Jaokar and Janardan Jaokar.He was a disciple of  Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Ali Akbar took Jaidev as his music assistant, in 1951, when he composed music for Navketan's Aandhiyan and Hum Safar. From Taxi Driver on, he bacame S D Burman's assistant.He got his break as an independent Music Director with Chetan Anand's Joru Ka Bhai.He came to limelight with Dev Anand's Hum Dono.
Jaidev was a musical genius,he gave us many memorable songs  like Lata’s ‘Subah Kaa Intezaar Kaun Kare’, Rafi’s ‘Kabhee Khud Pe Kabhee Haalaat Pe Ronaa Aayaa’, Mukesh’s ‘Jab Gham-e-Ishq Sataataa Hai’, Talat’s ‘Dekh Lee Teree Khudaaee’, Manna Dey’s ‘Pyaas Thee Phir Bhee Takaazaa Na Kiyaa’, Kishore’s ‘Yeh Wohee Geet Hai’, Yesudas’s ‘Chaand Akelaa’, Bhupendra’s ‘Ek Akelaa Is Shaher Mein’, Suresh Wadkar’s ‘Seene Mein Jalan’, Asha Bhosle’s ‘Maang Mein Bhar Le Rang Sakhee Ree’, Chhaya Ganguly’s ‘Aap Kee Yaad Aatee Rahee Raat Bhar’ and Runa Laila’s ‘Tumhein Ho Naa Ho’ presented a brilliantly varied spectrum of classy compositions.
.He had a unique capability to mix traditional and folk music into Hindi film situations, giving him a unique advantage to other music directors of his times.There are many films which will be remembered for his imaginative musical scores.Luck was not in his favour,most of the films he gave music did not fare well at the Box Office.He was being offered Low Budget films which were unable to find audiance.His music was hit not films.
 In 1971 Sunil Dutt gave him his film Reshma Aur Shera. The haunting songs of the film, not least Lata Mangeshkar’s Tu Chanda Main Chandni, fetched Jaidev a National Award. In the same year, he composed for another film that was set in Rajasthan. KA Abbbas’s Do Boond Paani, starring Simi Garewal was a drama on the theme of water scarcity. It is unfortunate that a song like Jaa Ri Pawaniya remains largely unknown.
After Do Boond Pani many low budget films came but none of them clicked at the Box Office.
The period between 1977 and ’79 saw Jaidev doing some of his best work, with films such as Alaap (1977), Gharaonda (1977) and Tumhare Liye(1978). Bhimsain, who directed Gharaonda, later made Dooriyaan (1979)Also in this period came Muzaffar Ali’s Gaman (1978), which fetched the music director his second National Award. The story of a migrant taxi driver in Bombay, the songs Seene Mein Jalan and Ajeeb Saneha perfectly capture the theme of alienation in the big city. But the pièce de résistance is undoubtedly Aapki Yaad Aati Rahi, brilliantly rendered by another newcomer, Chhaya Ganguly.
Jaidev remained Unmarried and was also without any house, he took the final bow from the world-stage on January 6, 1987, Hindi film-music lost an exceptionally talented composer, who never really got his due in his lifetime.
Song from Joru Ka Bhai 1955


Song from Hum Dono 1961


Song from Hum Dono 1961


Song from Mujhe Jeene Do 1963


Song from Kinare Kinare 1963


Song from Reshma Aur Shera [1971]


Song from Do Boond Pani [1971]

Song from  Maan Jaiye [1972]


Song from Prem Parvat [1973]


Song from Aalingan [1974]


Song from Alaap [1977]


Song from Gharonda [1977]


Song from Gharonda [1977]


Song from Gaman 1979 


Song from Gaman 1979 


Wednesday 2 August 2017

Cabaret in Bollywood



1960s was the era when cabaret songs were the real life of the movies. It was so much popular that they pulled the audience towards the theatres.These Cabaret were the part of the story unlike today's Item Numbers.Cuckko was the first Cabaret Dancer of bollywood,then came Helen.
In the Late 60s and early part of the 1970s actresses Fariyal,Aruna Irani, Bindu, Jayshree T and Padma Khanna entered into what was Helen's monopoly. In fact there is a cabaret in Dharma 1973 movie where the Top 5 Cabaret Dancers of Bollywood appeared in one song.
 The range extended from the likes of the  sexy Asha Sachdev and Prema Narayan, to out-and-out garish Kalpana Iyer and Jayshree T. Between them, these beauties had the item song market cornered, and many a famous tracks were picturized on them. If Jayshree T had songs like ‘Naach Meri Jaan’ with Mehmood from Main Sunder Hoon, then Asha Sachdev had the suggestive ‘Jis Kaam Ko Dono Aaye Hain’, from the Jitendra-starrer ‘Ek Hi Rasta’, while Kalpana Iyer had the disco genre cornered through the ‘80s and Prema Narayan sizzled her swimming costume with a host of other beauties in ‘Mausam Mastana’ from Satte Pe Satta… 
 Cuckoo, was the first major dancing star  who ruled the cabaret scene in the Forties and Fifties.Her talent made cabaret a must in the Bollywood films. Her dance numbers in the film Anokhi Ada established her as the lead dancer of that era.She introduced a 13-year-old Helen into films as a chorus dancer in the films like Shabistan and Awaara(1951).Cukoo and Helen most notably appeared in song and dance sequences together like in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi(1958) and Yahudi (1958). Her last film appearance was in Mujhe Jeene Do in 1963 after which she had disappeared from the film industry.
Song from Anokhi Ada 1948



Song from Awara 1951



Song from Aan 1952


Helen-Known as "Queen Of Cabaret",who started as a chorus dancer in films like Shabistan and Awaara (1951) later became the queen of cabaret.Her seductive dancing made her a star and is still respected today for her contribution to cinema. She remained for more than three decades an essential part of almost all first-rate movies, with at least one hot dance and song scene,  that was invariably the star attraction of the movie.
Song from Howrah Bridge 1958



Song from Intaquam (1969)



Song from Caravan (1971)



Bindu-her success story started with Shakti Samanta's Kati Patang (1970), where she had a sizzling cabaret dance, "Mera Naam Shabnam" to her credit; a number which is even today remembered as one of the highlights of the film.She  gave tough competition to the Queen of Cabaret, Helen. She was definitely the strongest contender for this particular crown.Her mesmerising performances in 1974 as a seductress in Imtihan, and as a nymphomaniac in Hawas, left audiences asking for more. 
Song from Kati Patang (1970)



Song from Zanjeer (1973)



Song from Anhonee 1973


Faryal-was born in the Damascus area of Syria to an Indian father and a Syrian mother.She  worked for a while as an air hostess in Air India before joining films.She was noted for her role as a cabaret dancer in the movie Jewel Thief released in 1967. One of her very popular cabaret number is Yeh Duniya To Hai Bas Paise Ki from the movie Do Thug.
Dance from Jewel Thief 1967


Dance from Puruskaar 1970



Dance from Insaan Aur Shaitan 1970



Aruna Irani-she made her debut in the movie Ganga Jamuna (1961) playing childhood Azra's character.She did small roles,comic roles and character roles also.She was heroine with Amitabh Bachchan in Bombay to Goa.Besides excellent acting she has is par excellent when it comes to dancing. She had many hit item numbers in many movies to her credit and one amongst them is the Cabaret song – Sapna Mera Tut Gaya from the movie Khel khel mein. 
Dance from Humshakal 1974


Dance from Fakira 1976



Song from Khel Khel Mein 1975

Jayshree T-trained as Kathak.Dancer but  gained popularity when she started performing item dances in films,She has done few very successful Cabaret dances in the Bollywood films. She had an oomph factor and her dancing was full of energy. One of her very popular cabaret song is Reshmi Ujala hai from the movie Sharmillee in 1971.
Song from Sharmillee 1971



Song from Anokhi Pehchaan 1972



Song from Rani Mera Naam 1972

Padma Khanna-Like JayshreeT she was also a trained Kathak Dancer under PBirju Maharaj. She came into limelight with Johny Mera Naam dance "Husn Ke Lakhon Rang"She is most remembered for her role in the film Saudagar with Amitabh Bachchan
Dance from Johny Mere Naam 1970



Dance from Paise Ki Gudiya 1974



Song from Jaandar 1979

Kalpana Iyer-She is best known for the song from Disco Dancer, 'Koi Yahan Nache Nache'.She was the Dancing Queen of 80s.She was a former Miss India.Some of her famous dance numbers were to the songs "Hari om Hari" in Pyaara Dushman (1980), "Tu Mujhe Jaan" in Wardaat (1981) and "Rambha Ho" in Armaan (1982 film).
Song from Disco Dancer 1982



Dance from Pyara Dushman


Dance from Armaan 1981




Beside these specialized Dancers many Heroines have also given Cabaret songs in Bollywood Rekha,Mumtaz,Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi are few such Heroines.
Mumtaz in a Song from Humjoli 1970


Rekha in a song from Parineeta 2005


Zeenat Amaan in Qurbani 1980


Parveen Babi in Namak Halal 1982

Here is a Rare Song From DHARMA 1973 in which 5 famous Cabaret Dancer Of Bollywood(HELEN,FARIYAL,Sonia Sahni,JayshreeT and Bindu) are dancing in one Song

Song from Dharma 1973



Tuesday 1 August 2017

Many Dimensions of MEENA KUMARI

Legend Meena Kumari(Born on 1st August 1932),I look at various dimensions of Meena Kumari.She shot to fame with Vijay Bhatt’s Baiju Bawra (1952).  She was born as Mahjabeen Bano to Ali Baksh and Iqbal Begum.Starting her carrier as a child artist she became the superstar in the 1950s and 60s.Unlike today's stars, she had many dimensions - she read poetry, had literary friends,a great voice sang for films, aspired to the higher life and was an alcoholic.she had a volatile love life .
She married Kamal Amrohi 15 years older to her who was already married having children,their marriage was not happy marriage.She threw herself in love with a series of men, most famously with a young and upcoming Dharmendra.She was a modern and emancipated woman.she never got true love.
She has been a part of several cult movies like Baiju Bawra, Sahab, Biwi Aur gulam, Pakeezah, Parineeta, Yahudi, Aarti, Kaajal and Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi. Best remembered for her role as alcoholic Chhoti Bahu, in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962).
 Meena Kumari was also a talented Urdu poetess under the pseudonym Naaz. According to Naushad Ali, Kumari's poetry clearly reflected her angst. Haunting, crystalline, and precisely observed, Kumari's poetry reveals a side of her personality that was rarely on display in her films. It proved that she was a much more sensitive and self-aware woman than her fans tend to realize.Shortly after Meena Kumari’s death in 1972, at the age of only 39, the lyricist and poet Gulzar arranged for Hind Pocket Books to publish the matinee idol’s poetry.
Meena Kumari is the most written Actress of Bollywood,lots of Biography and books are written are on her.Naushad Ali’s short biography, Actress Meena Kumari: From The Cradle To The Grave, summarizes her life—her beginnings as a child actor, her debut in the stunt movie called (of all things) Leatherface), her rise to fame as an adult actor with Baiju Bawra, her unrequited love for a leading man, her marriage with, and divorce from, a leading director, her slide into isolation and alcoholism.Meena Kumari The Poet: A Life Beyond Cinema by Noorul Hasan  a former professor of English with interests from Thomas Hardy to Firaq Gorakhpuri, has brought together several of Meena Kumari’s verses, published in English translation for the first time. Vetaran Journalist Late Vinod Mehta wrote a book on Meena Kumari-"Meena kumari the Classic Biography"
.She sang many great songs and earned her recognition in singing too. Merely at the age of 8 yrs, she sang a beautiful song with Beena Kumari "Tora Kajra Lagoon Mori Rani" from the film Bahen which released in 1941.She sang 3 songs in the movie Duniya Ek Sarai(1947)...Music was composed by Hansraj Behl.Then She sang around 7 songs in Piya Ghar Aaja(1947).Meena Kumari also sang few words for a song in Pinjre Ki Panchi(1966) with Manna Dey.
Music by Salil Choudhary and lyrics by Gulzar.
Meena Kumari worked with Khayyam Saheb for an album “I WRITE, I RECITE” in the year 1970.
There were total 8 Ghazals in this album.When she recited these ghazals, She was not well..
But, She rendered all the ghazals beautifully with her divine voice.
Here are my Favorite Songs of Meena Kumari
Song from Baiju Bawra 1952



Song from Do Bigha Zameen 1953


Song from Azad 1955



Song from Mem Sahib 1956



Song from Miss Marry 1957



Song from Yahudi 1958



Song from Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan 1959



Song from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 1960



Song from Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan  1961



Song from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam  1962



Song from Main Chup Rahungi  1962



Song from Aarti  1962



Song from Dil Ek Mandir  1963



Song from Chitralekha  1964



Song from Bheegi Raat 1965



Song from Bahu Begum  1967



Song from  Baharon Ki Manzil 1968



Song from Pakeezah  1972